Browse Best of SLO

Hate incidents mar Arroyo Grande area again

Vandals struck a middle school south of Arroyo Grande, drawing swastikas on a gym door and on class whiteboards.

The attack, which triggered a hate speech investigation by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department, took place at Mesa Middle School south of Arroyo Grande. This is the second hate incident in the Arroyo Grande area in two weeks; the first was the burning of an 11-foot cross in front of the bedroom window of a 19-year old African American woman in the city on March 18. No suspects have been arrested.

Four California flags were stolen from the middle school, and eggs had been thrown on the floor, according to sheriff reports.

The Arroyo Grande Police Department is also investigating a fire that was lit behind its station on the night of April 2. Firefighters were called to a blaze behind a utility box on the back wall of police headquarters. No suspects have been arrested.